Hawks Game 56: Feb. 20, 2025
Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: ORL 114 – ATL 108
The Atlanta Hawks fell to the Orlando Magic in their first game after the All-Star break. Atlanta looked dominant in the first quarter, opening up a 17-4 run for a nine-point lead. The Hawks’ halfcourt defense was locked in, holding Orlando to 8-24 shooting for a 33-21 lead after the first quarter.
However, the Magic took control in the middle two frames. Paolo Banchero scored 18 of his squad’s 38 second-quarter points. The Magic went on a 27-12 run to tie the game at 56. Atlanta uncharacteristically missed a lot of two-point shots around the paint, leading to easy runout scores for its opponent. Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher particularly struggled, combining to shoot 7-30 from the field on the night.
Franz Wagner and Banchero continued to take over the game in the third. Orlando went on a 13-5 run and hit five of their first six shots to take a nine-point lead. It held onto that advantage through the third frame. Coming into the fourth, Atlanta was shooting just 21-52 from inside the arc. The Hawks fought back late on an 11-1 run to tie the contest at 101 apiece, but Orlando had an answer. Cole Anthony and Banchero hit back-to-back clutch threes to create the separation the visitors needed to secure the win.
Trae Young scored 38 points, but the rest of the home team could not find its offensive rhythm. Banchero and Wagner totaled 36 and 25 points, respectively, while Anthony got hot in the fourth frame to finish with 17 points.
Game 57: Feb. 23, 2025
Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: DET 148 – ATL 143
Yes, that score is correct without overtime. The Detroit Pistons outlasted the Hawks in one of the wildest offensive battles of the season. Neither squad stopped each other consistently to build a big lead.
The Pistons held their biggest lead at 120-108 with under 10 minutes to go, but Atlanta punched right back with a 7-0 to get back in the game. The Hawks had a one-point with 33 seconds left until Dennis Schröder converted a tough and-one layup. On the other end, Young had a great floater look, but the ball bounced off the rim, and Atlanta was forced to play the foul game. After Malik Beasley knocked down two free throws, it looked like Young was fouled, but the Pistons successfully challenged the play and got back possession to seal the win.
Both teams cashed in at least 20 triples on 46% efficiency, but the big difference came from two-point range. Detroit shot 35-53 on twos, while the Hawks finished 27-51. After Cade Cunningham put up a monster 29-point, 10-assist first half, Atlanta had to double him in the second. This gave other players like Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Schroder the runway they needed to have big offensive performances.
Cunningham slowed down over the final two frames to finish with 38 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. Beasley made six of his ten triple tries for 24 points, while Schroder had 16. Hardaway scored all 18 of his points from beyond the arc.
Young totaled 38 points and 13 assists, while Georges Niang made seven threes for 27 points off the bench. Risacher filled up the stat sheet with 19 points, six boards, two steals, and two blocks. Daniels had 24 points on 10-14 shooting with four steals.
Hawks Game 58: Feb. 24, 2025
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: MIA 86 – ATL 98
The Atlanta Hawks took down the Miami Heat in a gritty, defensive performance to start the week at home. Neither team found a prolonged rhythm offensively, but Atlanta’s bench scoring was key in the win.
Caris LeVert (15 points), Terance Mann (15 points), Georges Niang (11 points), and Clint Capela (eight points and 11 rebounds) outscored Miami’s bench 49-24. LeVert scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter after going 1-6 from the field across the first three frames.
The Hawks won the paint points 58-38, converting 58% of their two-point shots after struggling in that department last week. Atlanta shot 25% from deep, while Miami managed just 17%.
Both squads were neck and neck in the first half until the Hawks headed into the locker room up 50-42 after a 14-7 run. Atlanta continued its momentum, beginning the third quarter on a 10-2 run, but the Heat punched back. They went on a 10-0 push with threes from Duncan Robinson and Kyle Anderson to cut their deficit to three points. However, Capela and Mann provided important sparks off the bench to extend the Hawks’ lead heading into the fourth.
Miami managed to get in the bonus with 8:44 left in the game, capitalizing on the Hawks’ over-agression. Atlanta still held a 90-84 advantage with 3:25 left and ended the game on an 8-2 run inside the final minute.
Trae Young scored just 11 points but dished out 14 assists. Dyson Daniels recorded seven steals with 10 points and 11 boards, while Onyeka Okongwu had 17 points and eight rebounds.
Daniels held Tyler Herro in check. Miami’s All-Star finished 4-19 from the field for 11 points, and Bam Adebayo (14 points) also struggled. Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with 23 points (4-9 3PT).
Game 59: Feb. 26, 2025
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat
Final Score: ATL 109 – MIA 131
Just two days after a horrific offensive performance in Atlanta, the Heat got their revenge against the Hawks at home. Miami shot a scorching 23-42 from beyond the arc, winning the three-point battle by 33 points. Even though the visitors dominated the points in the paint, 54-32, it was not enough to overcome the drastic difference from downtown.
Both squads shot the ball well heading into halftime, shooting over 58% from the field and 50% from deep. With the contest tied at 65 apiece, it was anyone’s game. Young started the second half with eight quick points, getting into the paint whenever he wanted. However, Miami made a key defensive adjustment to slow the Hawks mid-way through the third frame. The Heat switched to zone defense.
Suddenly, Atlanta could not find easy looks inside or outside, and Miami took advantage. Davion Mitchell hit three triples, scoring 12 points in the quarter, to lead his squad on a game-changing 19-4 run. The Heat blew the game open and never looked back, holding the Hawks to just 16 fourth-quarter tallies.
Daniels led his squad with 18 points on 8-10 shooting, while Young (4-12 FG) and LeVert (6-12) had 17 points each.
Miami had four players make at least four triples. Robinson and Herro, who dished out 10 dimes, scored 24 points each. After not playing for five games, Haywood Highsmith dropped 14 points on 4-5 shooting from deep. Mitchell and Adebayo both added 20 points.
Game 60: Feb. 28, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: OKC 135 – ATL 119
The Hawks gave up 23 threes and over 130 points for the second consecutive game in their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder to end this week. Before these previous two games, Atlanta ranked 15th in defensive rating. In just two contests, it fell to 19th.
The Thunder quickly built a 15-4 lead within four minutes, shooting 66% from the field. They forced the Hawks into seven turnovers and took a commanding 40-23 after the first quarter. It looked like Oklahoma City was bound to run away quickly, but Atlanta punched back with a 41-point second frame. It shot 6-10 from beyond the arc, ending the quarter on a 14-2 run to cut the Thunder’s lead to seven points at halftime. The visitors only scored two points over the final 3.5 minutes.
The Thunder put the game away for good to close the third frame with an 18-3 run, including four straight triples. They already had 21 threes before the start of the final frame. Atlanta cut into its deficit to make the score 120-109 with 4:40 left, but it turned the ball over in three of the next four possessions to end the comeback bid.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 31 points, while Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams added 20 each. Oklahoma City’s bench combined to shoot 10-18 from deep.
Okongwu had a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double, and LeVert scored 23 points. Young collected 12 dimes but finished with 19 points on 5-14 shooting.
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